County clerks do not have to provide county records to the public under the Freedom of Information Act, since it is a Federal act. I have tried using that in the past, and it did not work! I was successful, however, in using the Code of Virginia. I do not have the specific reference at hand, but there is a law in the Code of Virginia that specifically states that the public may have access to county records. It is the job of the clerk to safeguard the records, however. The clerk, by law, has to let you see the record, but he does not have to let you touch it! If the clerk refuses to let you view the record, you have the right to take him to court and, by law, you would win. Most people would not go that far, and that is why some clerks are able to get away with preventing the public from seeing certain records. To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html.